Where It's Located
The Nairobi Kenya Temple is located at LR# 13646/4, Hinga Road, Mountain View, Nairobi, Kenya, along Waiyaki Way (A104 Road) in the Mountain View neighborhood of western Nairobi. The temple sits on a beautifully landscaped 3.435-acre (1.4-hectare) property that also includes an ancillary building with a meetinghouse and patron housing. There is no visitors' center, arrival center, or distribution center on the property. A marble replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue welcomes visitors in the front courtyard.
Getting There
The nearest major airport is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), located about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of the temple. Travelers from the United States can reach Nairobi with one-stop flights through major international hubs such as Doha, Dubai, London, Amsterdam, or Paris. From the airport, the temple is typically a 35- to 45-minute drive, depending on Nairobi traffic.
A Bit of History
The Nairobi Kenya Temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson during the April 2017 General Conference on April 2, 2017. It became the first temple in Kenya, the first operating temple in East Africa, and the 204th dedicated temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before its construction, members from Kenya and neighboring countries often traveled to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, Accra Ghana Temple, or even the London England Temple, requiring tremendous sacrifice in both time and expense.
Groundbreaking services were held on September 11, 2021, with Elder Joseph W. Sitati presiding. Following a public open house held from April 17 through May 3, 2025, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the temple on May 18, 2025. Today, the temple serves members from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi, and Rwanda, dramatically reducing travel for thousands of Latter-day Saints throughout East Africa.
Design and Architecture
The Nairobi Kenya Temple contains approximately 19,870 square feet (1,846 square meters) of floor space. Its exterior is finished with elegant Portuguese Moleanos limestone and features a single attached end spire. The temple rises approximately 107 feet (32.7 meters) above the surrounding landscape.
Inside, the temple includes two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry. A recurring design theme throughout the temple is the African lily (Agapanthus), one of Kenya's best-known flowering plants. The flower's distinctive blue and lavender colors appear in the stained glass, decorative artwork, and interior finishes, celebrating the beauty of East Africa while creating a peaceful atmosphere for worship.
Final Thoughts
The Nairobi Kenya Temple marks a historic milestone for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Africa. As the first operating temple in East Africa, it has brought sacred temple ordinances much closer to faithful members across multiple nations who previously traveled great distances to worship. Since its dedication in 2025, the temple has become both a spiritual landmark and a symbol of the Church's remarkable growth throughout East Africa, blessing thousands of individuals and families for generations to come.
Scott & Riah
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